Boucher was forced to call time on his 15-year international career on Tuesday after suffering a severe eye injury in a freak incident during the tour match against Somerset.

Tsolekile, 31, will join the squad ahead of the three-Test series but is unlikely to play in the opening match, starting at The Oval next week, after the coach, Gary Kirsten, said AB de Villiers would initially take over behind the stumps.

Tsolekile's call had been expected after he was handed a central contract earlier this year – the first time South Africa have selected a reserve keeper since 1998.

"Thami has done very well with both the Lions and South Africa A for a couple of seasons, culminating in his South African record eight catches in an innings this past week," said the Cricket South Africa selection convener Andrew Hudson.

"With AB de Villiers also able to fill the role of wicketkeeper in the Test series it gives the tour selectors options in this important position."

Tsolekile has three Test caps, all of which came in 2004 when Boucher was unavailable, while he has 132 first-class appearances.

Boucher retired after he required three hours of surgery on Monday night to help repair a lacerated eye he suffered against Taunton. The 35-year-old was struck by a flying bail while standing up to the stumps and was immediately taken to hospital with blood apparently coming from his eye.

The extent of the damage to Boucher's eye will be assessed on his return to South Africa, with the veteran – who is the record-holder for most Test dismissals – revealing in his statement that he faced an "uncertain recovery".